INSIDE
PICKERINGTON
N E W S & I N F OR M AT I O N F R O M T H E C I T Y O F P I C K E R I NGT ON
Census. What is it and why is it important to the residents of Pickerington? As the 2020 count gets underway, local leaders are working hard to explain why everyone’s participation will be critical. First, what is the census? As mandated by the U.S. Constitution, our nation gets just one chance each decade to count its population and 2020 is that year. The data collected by the census determines the number of seats each state has in the U.S. House of Representatives and is also used to distribute billions in federal funds to local communities. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, when you respond to the census, you help your community get its fair share of the more than $675 billion per year in money to be spent on schools, hospitals, roads, public works and other vital programs. Federal funds, grants, and support to states, counties and communities are based on population totals and breakdowns by sex, age, 8
race and other factors. The community benefits the most when the census counts everyone. So, how will this happen locally? By April 1 every home is expected to receive an invitation to participate. Once the invitation arrives, people can respond one of three ways: mail, phone or online. The most important thing is that everyone responds. The local Complete Count Committee is a joint effort by Pickerington and Violet Township leaders to make sure that happens. City Manager Greg Butcher is a member of the committee. “The City will be very involved in the 2020 Census. It has been published that uncounted Ohioans result in a loss of potential funding of $1,800 per person,” Butcher says. “That equates to $18,000 over a 10-year period. Therefore, we will be utilizing many community resources to stress the importance of being counted.”
Local governments use the census for public safety and emergency preparedness. Residents use the census to support community initiatives involving legislation, quality of life and consumer advocacy. Businesses use census data to decide where to build factories, offices and stores, and this creates jobs. Developers use the census to build new homes and revitalize old neighborhoods. Pickerington has grown by approximately 5,000 residents over the last decade and Violet Township has experienced similar growth. Pickerington’s Economic Development Director, Dave Gulden, says that’s why it’s critical to get an accurate count. “We don’t want to miss out on funding,” he notes. To learn more about the U.S. Census, visit www.census.gov.
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Photos courtesy of the City of Pickerington
2020 US Census Counts for Future Development
